PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (January 4, 2000 – Radio Australia)---The governor of American Samoa, Tauese Sunia, has denied giving assurances that he will approve a casino gambling bill as soon as it's passed by the Fono (legislature).

Last week, the Fa‘aola Group from California, which submitted a bid for the casino, said the governor had given the assurance during a closed door meeting with nine company representatives.

Governor Sunia has conceded he did tell the group that once the legislation was in place, there was a strong possibility he would sign it.

But at a public meeting in December, Governor Tauese announced he would not sign the bill, because most American Samoans are opposed to the plan.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (January 5, 2000 – The National)---The PNG Electricity Commission has managed to continue providing vital power services to its customers despite the fact that its business application systems were not Y2K-compliant, general manager Sev Maso said yesterday.

Mr. Maso said the commission had made a submission for K 10.6 million (US$ 3.92 million) to the Government, to help purchase a fully integrated software system that would ensure efficiency of service and a smooth transition during the rollover period.

However, the Government did not provide all the funds. Instead, Mr. Maso said, the National Y2K Committee gave only K 273,000 (US$ 101,010) to Elcom in late December, leaving the Commission with little time to prepare its computer systems for the bug.

He said Elcom therefore had to fall back on its Y2K contingency plan and carry out most of its business applications systems-- including ledgers, billings and...

KOROR, Palau (January 5, 2000 – Radio Australia)---Palau's Minister of State, Sabino Anastacio, says his government established diplomatic links with Taiwan because it wants to expand international ties.

Palau and Taiwan formalized diplomatic relations last week, and Taipei is expected to set up an ambassadorial office in Koror later this year.

Anastacio said that Taiwan is a source of substantial tourism dollars for Palau, and Taiwan investors are involved in a number of the Micronesian nation’s significant projects and enterprises.

The Minister said Palau has also been in discussions with the 16-nation South Pacific Forum to increase Pacific region commerce with Palau.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (January 5, 2000 – The National)---Tourism operator Peter Barter has called on the Government to act on the growing threat to tourism in the country, following reports that tourists were attacked on the Kokoda Trail last weekend.

Mr. Barter said the Government should make some parts of PNG off limits for tourists and erase these areas from promotional brochures.

"The problem with such incidents is that they do not just affect the Kokoda Trail. The media in Australia and elsewhere will generalize, which will continue to exasperate the already critical situation in the perception, real or otherwise, that Papua New Guinea is a dangerous place to visit," Mr. Barter said in a statement yesterday.

''There are other parts of PNG which are considered unsafe for travel. It is time the Government, through the Tourism Promotion Authority, placed such areas of known danger off the 'tourist map'.

NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (January 5, 2000 – Radio Australia)---The leader of Tonga's fledgling democracy movement, Akilisi Pohiva, says Crown Prince Tupouto‘a will continue to be influential in Tongan politics, even though he will not be prime minister.

In a surprise move, the King appointed his youngest son, 41-year-old Prince Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, to the position, following the retirement of Baron Vaea.

Analysts say the crown prince's support for constitutional change may have cost him the job.

Mr. Pohiva said, however, that the crown prince has the ear of the new prime minister and the king.

"I think even though Tupouto‘a is not the prime minister, I think he will still be very influential from behind the scenes in the process of decision-making.

"I think he will find it easy to discuss and to talk to the prime minister, his brother, and also so his majesty."

The crown prince will continue to be very influential in the future, Mr. Pohiva said...

APIA, Samoa (December 31, 1999 – Samoa Observer)---He's the last of the freedom fighters. A true survivor. When most of those who had worked with him to secure Samoa's freedom from colonial rule have passed on, he is still serving his country. He has been doing this for the last 59 years. There is truly a purpose in his life. At his modest home at Faato‘ia surrounded by four acres of banana trees, paw paws, cocoa, pineapples and breadfruit, Samoa's Head of State, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, 87, lives a simple life. "Tanu", as he is fondly called by those close to him, is the most unassuming Head of State there is. He does not ask for much, but his "family" makes sure he is not in need. And behind his simple cheerfulness is a mind very much absorbed with his country's well being. But "Tanu" is not as simple as he tries to make out. He is a Tama Aiga of the Malietoa clan, which...

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands (January 5, 2000 – Saipan Tribune)---The Federal Bureau of Investigation has begun a probe of the former director of the Small Business Development Center administered by the Northern Marianas College for possible federal program fraud and other violations of U.S. laws.

The center has drawn controversy in recent weeks after the U.S. Small Business Administration terminated its contract with NMC and transferred the program to the Commonwealth Development Authority -- a move which college officials and some lawmakers described as personal vendetta by its ex-director, Jack Peters.

A letter from the U.S. Office of Inspector General indicated that the FBI office on Guam has been tasked to investigate Mr. Peters, who now heads the Pacific Islands SBDC Network based in the University of Guam.

Dated December 3, the letter came from Daniel Sanchez, special agent-in-charge at the Investigations...

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (January 6, 2000 - Tonga Chronicle)---His Royal Highness Prince Lavaka-Ata-Ulukalala took up duties on Monday as Prime Minister, as well as the portfolios of Marine, Fisheries, and Agriculture and Forestry.

The letter of appointment by His Majesty King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV was read to His Royal Highness at the Liukava Royal Residence in Kolovai by Ms. ‘Eleni Mone ‘Aho, Private Secretary to His Majesty, in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata‘aho; Her Royal Highness Princess Nanasipau‘u Tuku‘aho and the Royal Family; as well as former Prime Minister Baron Vaea of Houma and the Hons. Fohe and Lasike.

The latter, a hereditary noble of the Ha‘a Havea clan to which Prince ‘Ulukalala-Lavaka-Ata belongs, accepted on the Prince’s behalf.

The appointment came as a surprise to the nation on Monday evening following speculation last year that the Crown Prince would be appointed Prime Minister when Baron Vaea of Houma received approval of pre-...

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (January 5, 2000 – Radio Australia)---The first baby born in the new millennium is "progressing well" but is unlikely to leave the hospital until next week.

The baby boy, born at 12.01 a.m. New Year's morning at Waitakere Hospital in West Auckland, was transferred to the special care unit of another hospital where a spokesman said he is doing well "but will not be discharged for several days."

The baby, who does not yet have a name, is the fourth child in the family. He has three sisters.

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.